A Formula Investigation Update

Negotiations News:
from The SCFA Sentinel, Volume 18, Issue 2

My last report provided a lengthy overview of the work done this year by the SCFA Formula Committee. The concerns we have relative to the interpretation and implementation of the income formula have now been shared with the Omniparty, and discussions are continuing to try to reach a shared understanding of these issues.

The District has agreed to provide the necessary resources to document the implementation of the formula since its inception. With this in mind, a new sub-committee of Omniparty has been formed with a representative from each of the bargaining units along with Doug Smith and Joyce Lopes. The sub-committee is tasked with identifying the information that needs to be collected and reported, and the District representatives have expressed their dedication to complete the task expeditiously. Two CPAs who work for the District as consultants are also part of the sub-committee, to relieve the Business Office of some of the burden of producing the required reports as quickly as possible.

The District has also agreed that, in the interest of openness and transparency, the allocation of growth revenues since the implementation of the formula should be the subject of an independent audit. The reports that will be prepared for the Omniparty should also be helpful for the audit.

The issues that have been raised by the SCFA Formula Committee have the potential to bring about profound changes at Sierra College. The interpretation and implementation of the income formula as it relates to growth dollars has an enormous impact on the college’s staffing policies and procedures. Strategic Council this year has been exhaustively looking at how we could more effectively staff the institution. The recommendations that will eventually come out of this process could be significantly altered if a new understanding is developed about the District’s contractual obligation to spend growth dollars on new positions.

Stay tuned for further developments.